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Senate could vote next week on ending Sanctuary Cities and increasing penalties for criminal aliens

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Friday, July 1, 2016

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Today marks the one-year anniversary of the shooting death of Kate Steinle by a five-times deported illegal alien who was set free by San Francisco authorities despite a hold request from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the year since, Congress has failed to take meaningful action against jurisdictions like San Francisco that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

That may change next week when the Senate could vote on two bills dealing with immigration enforcement. The first, introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, would strengthen the federal definition of a sanctuary city and withhold public works and community development funds from any jurisdiction that fits the new definition. The second bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, would increase penalties for criminal aliens and repeat illegal border crossers.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed cloture on both bills earlier this week. That means the Senate vote could happen sometime after their return from the holiday weekend on Wednesday.

Despite popular and bipartisan support for ending sanctuary policies, the road ahead won't be easy. First, 60 votes for are needed to bring each bill to the Senate floor for debate. Then, another vote with a 60-vote threshold is needed to end debate and proceed to final passage.

However, polling indicates the American people are on Sens. Cruz and Toomey's side. Poll after poll since last year's shooting in San Francisco has showed mass support for ending sanctuary policies. Even San Francisco voters showed their disgust with the region's own sanctuary policies when it ousted Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, who implemented the city's policies, last November.

Please ask your Senators this weekend on behalf of all the Americans who have fallen victim to crimes at the hands sanctuary policies, to end sanctuary city policies. Your Senator needs to hear from you!